GAT Saint Louis

The principles we train at GAT St. Louis are embodied by the styles within Garimot arnis, buno, and esgrima.

Tres Puntos (meaning three points) is a style that originated in Batangas, the home of the balisong. The triangle patterns in this art encode the essential weapon-handling skills of thrusting, cutting, and retention, as well as countering the opponent's attacks and defenses.

Cinco Teros, which means five strikes, is thought to be the original art of Luzon. The fundamental timing and angles to safely strike your opponent are seen in this style. The Cinco Teros of Garimot arnis emphasizes largo mano (positioning yourself out of your opponent's reach but close enough to strike), but deals with corto mano (close range controlling and hitting) as well.

Siete Colores means seven colors (or seven flags), a reference to the seven original provinces that rebelled against Spain. It is popular in Laguna with various names and characteristics, all related by their use of seven angles of attack. Siete Colores shows methods of using the opponent's movement to your own advantage.

A condensed version known as Laban Tulisan (bandit fighting) was used to quickly train guerrilla warriors in Laguna to fight the Spanish when firearms or ammo were scarce.

Meaning twelve peers, Doce Pares is an old system, named for the legend of Charlemagne's knights, developed from native fighting arts with Spanish influence through the larong moro-moro in Laguna. Doce Pares provides a framework for integrating and understanding all the systems in Garimot arnis.

Originally known as Doce Pares de Francia, plays which dramatized the triumph of the Spanish Christians over the Muslim Moors were introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish via Mexico in the 17th century. They were renamed by the Filipinos to larong moro-moro and used as a vehicle to preserve and develop their fighting arts. Garimot arnis preserves the traditional sequences and training methods that originate from Paete, Laguna.

Garimot buno covers both standing and ground fighting, including strikes, throws, pins, locks, and escapes. Animal characteristics are emulated, but the two primary animals are the tiger and monkey, which represent the dichotomies of aggressive/passive, direct/evasive, hard/soft, etc. This style contains elements of native Filipino wrestling from the Aetas and Mangyans, and the close-range locks and controls of arnis.

Siete Henerales is a unique style of fencing developed in Paete, Laguna, that uses European swords rather than Filipino. The methods of using longer blades with greater hand protection illustrate how to attack while shielding yourself or controlling the opponent's weapon at the same time.